Four

Jared hugged Ken for the last time, he was going to see his best friend in four weeks but he knew that this was the time he could say goodbye to him. He was going to miss Ken, he was going to miss everything about his kingdom but he understood that this was for the best. They could not have chosen another elite and even if they did, there was no guarantee that the person who was chosen would not try to make the delicate issue worse or make the kingdom of Asteria crash when he becomes king because he did not know how to rule. Jared was the best person for the job and it was not because he was ken friend thereby making the kingdoms of Kythia and Asteria to have good relations through their future rulers but also because he had closely watched the king rule and outside of the royal family, his family was the next choice on who could successfully rule a kingdom.

“I am going to miss you brother. “Ken said with his voice barely above a whisper.

“me too brother” Jared said as he lets go of ken and entered his horse, he wished that at least one of the people he was closed to throughout his life could follow him but he was not sure how the kingdom of Asteria will accept that so it was better for him to go first. His sister had promised that it would not be up to a year after his marriage before she will come to visit him. He understood that ken could not come to visit him. The position ken was in would not allow him to make visits unless he was invited or they had an urgent matter to discuss and he will soon enter the same position besides he would not want ken to leave his new family.

“Go on. At least you got Mona to protect you and nobody will question her position by your side. “Ken said with a smile.

“I don’t need a girl to protect me physically. “ Jared spurted out when he realized what ken was saying. 

“You might when your future wife attacks you and you know that you cannot hit her, you could send Mona to do it for you and she will gladly do it. “Ken said as Jared glared at him. “Be safe brother, watch your back. “

“I will “Jared said as he lifted himself on his horse and joined the small group of guards he was taking to his future kingdom. At least he knew that he could trust everybody that was in the group, including Mona who was inside the carriage.

When they got closed to the palace at Asteria, Jared entered the carriage to refresh himself. He spent the whole journey quiet and lost in his thoughts not engaging in the talks that the guards around him engaged in. after getting dressed Mona entered the carriage again and helped him to smooth out the creases in his clothes.

“Nervous?” Mona asked.

“No. “Jared answered as Mona looked at him with an eyebrow raised. “ I am not nervous. I just don’t know what to hope for.  And I hate going into any situation blind.”  

“I am sure that she would not disappoint your expectations.” Mona said as Jared shook his head. 

“Believe me when I say that it is better for her to disappoint my expectations, if she doesn’t then I cannot get married to her. “ 

Mona smiled at that then she decided to say what has been troubling her since Jared changed her orders. “I think it would be better if we stick to the orders of prince ken, he said that I should be your shadow and I have no problem with that in fact I would prefer that  than guarding a princess who I know nothing about. “

“Still I need somebody I can trust to guard her and watch her movements.” Jared said as Mona sighs. “You know that you are the only one I can trust with that job and that you are the only one who can get close to her without being suspected of foul play since you are a female.”

“I know but still I am not comfortable with you being alone always and I know that you won’t allow any of the guards to follow you about. “ Mona said “besides I do not want to go against what I was sent to do. “

Jared sighs. “You might not be comfortable with it but it is the best situation after all you cannot always be by my side, tongues will wag.” Jared said as Mona sighs again.

“You are right but that does not mean that I will not watch you from a distance. “ 

“God, you are stubborn, fine but you can only do that when you know that the princess is safe. “ 

“I am okay with that conclusion. “

   A knock sounded on the door as a voice said. “My lord, we have arrived. “

Jared took a deep  breathe then opened the door and came out only to see the queen standing between her husband and  young boy who started glaring at him when Mona came down behind him, without a word, he turned on his heels and stomped back to the castle.

“Hello and welcome, I apologize for my daughter behavior she is not always that rude.” The queen said with a laugh as Jared stared at her in shock, the person he thought was a boy was a lady, his future bride to be.

“Her.” Mona voiced his thoughts

“Yes, sorry she was dressed like that, she just came back from a hunt when we received word of your arrival, there was no time for her to change. “The king said as he stepped forward to clasp hands with Jared as Jared gave him a strained smile.

Something told Jared that she left in anger because Mona came out of the carriage behind him and she has already arrived at her own conclusion on what they were doing. He also happened to know that to princess Alexa, first impression is all that matters.

Alexa breathed heavily, trying to calm herself down, there was no way she would allow the arrival of her future husband to upset her even though she never realized the realness of the situation on he came down from the carriage and then the lady that came down behind him, she knew that she was dressed like a maid but she would not make the mistake to think that she is the ordinary type of maid or that something was not going on between her suppose future husband and her. She came down from the carriage with Lord Jared and her clothing looked rich. 

Alexa calmed her breathing, she will not allow her future husband to know that he had unsettled her with his arrival, if your enemy know the kind of effect he has on you, he had already won half way and there was no way she would allow him to win when his opponent is her, she will make sure that she won. Right now, she and Lord Jared as in different teams playing the same game.

She sat down by her vanity and started to remove the pins from her hair as she waited for Betty to come, her maid was never too far from her, she knew that the only reason why Betty had not arrived was because she had stayed back to get the information for her about how to know her enemy more and then make sure that he stayed out of her life.

“Your highness, the lady is a maid.” Betty said as a greeting as she curtsied and moved to Alexa and took over removing the pins from her hair.

“Any other information I should know about. “ Alexa asked as she rested her hand and allowed her maid to continue removing the pin from her hair all by herself.

“Lord Jared was a little bit surprised at your appearance. “ Betty said with a snicker.

“Let me guess, he was not marveled at my timeless beauty” Alexa asked with a chuckle.

“I think he was shocked at your way of dressing. “ Betty said as Alexa laughs. She could not wait until she tell him that after her wedding to him that she was not going to change her style of dressing. And if luck was on her side, she might succeed in driving him off before the wedding by just being her normal self.

The dinner was very tense that evening, especially with Alexa trying to show Jared that she was as unrefined as they come and with her parents trying to apologies for her attitude towards trying to drive her future husband away. Things became more tensed when Mona arrived to whisper something in Jared ears and he said that she should join them. That was when Alexa throw all pretense of trying to make Jared disgusted with her out the window. 

“I do not know how you do it in your kingdom, my lord but here we don’t invite our mistress to eat at the same table as our future wives.”  Alexa said in a scathing tone that made Jared smile. 

He knew the princess was trying her best to drive him away which meant that she did not even suspect the danger at her kingdom which was under the pretense of a visiting noble, her sense of danger was seriously lagging behind. “Well, in my kingdom, we don’t need a mistress because most times, our wives satisfy all our cravings. I would assume you do not practice the same here unless you are already feeling insecure.” Jared drawls as Alexa death glare went even darker as she tightens her hold on her spoon as if she would like nothing more than to leap across the table and slit her intended throat with the cutlery.

“Alexa, drop the cutlery and act like a lady.” Her mother voice whipped around Alexa in a sharp command that she quickly dropped the cutlery without realizing that she was already releasing her grip on her weapon. 

She gaped at her father who was already apologizing to Jared for her back talk. “You all must be pulling my leg.” She said in a loud tone as Jared and her father returned their attention to her as she grew redder in face.

“Alex…. “Her mother started in a warning tone when she saw the wildness in her daughter eyes but Alexa has already gone beyond the point of caring.

“He has been here for less than a day and you all are bowing to his wishes as if it was after his coronation. Need I remind you that he needs to be married to me first before he gains a standing to be the successor of the throne…”  Alexa said and when her father sent a glare her way, she turned her head and refused to heed to the warning in his gaze. “You taught me how to always speak my mind and be who I am and yet you try to suffocate me since he came. I will not be folded into whatever mold you want for me even if the mold is for me to act like the prefect wife when her husband flaunts his mistress in her face.” 

 After her rant, she immediately regretted showing the fact that she cares and that the fact can be used to exploit her but she continued glaring at Jared without removing her eyes from his perfectly chiseled face even though that her parents were quiet trying to absolve all she just said and this was the perfect time for her to try and escape but she did not.

 She watched as Jared face split with a sudden wide grin that was too big to be anything other than to be real.” Well, at least I know that the marriage will be interesting with you in it for me and that our fights will always be like this. So mundane.” Jared said as Alexa gasps as she stared at him with her gaze turning from disdain to shock.

“You still want to get married to me.” 

“Well yes, I don’t have a choice, our kingdoms has decided that future on their own with we having as little decisions in it as possible. So don’t get used to my compliments, I always dole them out that on extra ordinary things that make me surprised.”  Jared said as he pushed his chair back and stood with a flourish. “I am retiring to my room.” she said with a deep bow the he stood and strode out.

“Me too.” I whispered as I try to escape my parents but my father voiced a command.

“Alexandra, have you seat. We need to talk.” 

I stayed back in my seat and wait for the berating to start.